QVHS to step back in time this weekend

QUINCY — The Quincy Valley Historical Museum will be a time warp this weekend, taking folks back to the founding of the country.

“Every other year we do a harvest festival, a celebration of harvest and culture,” said Harriet Weber, executive director of the Quincy Valley Historical Society. “This year we expanded it to three days for America 250.”

On Friday evening the museum will host “An Evening with George and John,” with actors portraying George Washington and John Hancock. 

George Washington is played by Vern Frykholm of Sequim, who has portrayed the father of our country at more than 500 events, according to his website. He’ll spend Friday afternoon giving talks at schools in Quincy before meeting up with John Hancock at the museum. Originally, a professional had been hired to play Hancock as well, Weber said, but that fell through, so he’ll be portrayed by her husband David Weber.

“An Evening with George and John” will be accompanied by Riley Youngren playing a mashup of Mozart and the Beatles on the harpsichord. That’s not as unlikely a pairing as it sounds like, Weber said.

“A lot of Beatles songs use harpsichord, if you know which ones to listen to,” she said.  

On Saturday, the Spirit of 76 Living History Association will have an encampment set up on the grass to give military demonstrations, including the use of black powder and a fife and drum drill. They’ll be there the entire weekend, giving tours of the encampment and immersing visitors in the life of a Revolutionary soldier.

Besides the army, there will be apple cider pressing, old-time kids’ games, a weaving floor demonstration for both adults and children, and fried bread made up in the Summer Kitchen. 

Jacie Sites and her band The Nitpickers will perform inside the Heritage Barn from 1 to 2 p.m. Sites, based in Idaho, is a five-time national fiddle champion and Grand Ole Opry performer, according to her website. 

In the afternoon, there will be a Ceremony of Oneness, with a procession of 27 flags from different countries and patriotic music. George Washington and state Rep. Alex Ybarra will speak.

Parking is tight at the museum, Weber said, so attendees on Saturday are encouraged to park at the cemetery, about a block away. There will be a shuttle to take them back to their cars at 3 p.m., she said.

Saturday evening will see an old-fashioned barn dance, Weber said, showcasing dances from two and a half centuries of American culture. 

The dance card will range from an 18th-century minuet and a 19th-century Virginia reel to disco and the Macarena. The finale will be the Quincy High School drama students teaching the dance from last year’s musical, “Footloose.”

The barn dance isn’t just a show, Weber said; it’s for everyone to participate in.

“We’re going to teach people to dance, and we want them to dance,” she said.

Jacie Sites and the Nitpickers will perform at the dance as well.

The weekend will conclude Sunday morning with a Heritage of Faith service at the Pioneer Church at the museum, led by Pastor Jess Slusher with music by local performers. The focus will be on music and history more than a traditional church service, Weber said.

“There’s a narrator who will narrate each section, and a printed program that people can follow along and sing with,” she said. 

For more information, visit www.qvhsm.org/upcoming-events.

    The Quincy Valley Historical Society will host A Weekend of Heritage and Community starting tomorrow, including an encampment by the Spirit of 76 Living History Association.
  

    Five-time National Fiddle Champion Jacie Sites will perform at the Quincy Valley Historical Society’s Weekend of Heritage and Community.
  

    A Weekend of Heritage and Community will finish off with gospel music and hymns at the Pioneer Church Sunday.